Google’s new Chrome “auto-browse” agent tries to roam the web without you

Google debuted with New “Auto Browse” feature chromium on wednesday. This tool is powered by Google’s current Gemini 3 Generation AI model is an AI agent designed to take over your Chrome browser and help you complete online tasks like booking a flight, finding an apartment, or reporting expenses.

The release of Auto Browse is part of Google’s continued integration of AI capabilities into Chrome. last year, google Removed “Gemini in Chrome” mode to answer questions about the content of web pages and synthesize details from multiple open tabs.

Automatic reference. The user gemini Chrome’s sidebar is only available in the US today. subscriber Part of Google’s monthly AI Pro and AI Ultra plans. It’s unclear when automatic browsing will be available to free users and additional countries.

Google’s rollout is consistent with Silicon Valley’s vision for the future of web browsing: significantly more AI and significantly fewer users. Even if it is a browser designed from the beginning around generative AI. Atlas of OpenAIor those retrofitted with new AI-based tools like Google’s Chrome, almost every option available to consumers today has some level of AI built into it. ( Vivaldi browser This is a notable exception for users who want to avoid AI-powered web browsing).

Charmaine D’Silva, Director of Product Management at Chrome, showed us an example of Auto Browse, which helps people shop online, during a pre-launch demo. “I no longer have to remember where I bought something and reorder something. I can now delegate to Auto Browse within Gemini and go ahead and buy the jacket,” she said. D’Silva reordered a jacket he bought last year by typing a message in Chrome’s Gemini sidebar, asking the bot to find a discount coupon code before making the purchase.

Auto-referencing is in progress.

Auto-referencing is in progress.

Provided by Google

When auto-browsing starts, Chrome takes over and makes ghostly clicks inside its own tab while trying to complete the specified task. The demo version includes a disclaimer that says, “Use Gemini with caution and control as necessary.” “You are responsible for Gemini’s actions during a task.” Even if you send your robot out into the digital wilderness, Google will still consider you responsible for what it does online at your request.

So far, automation has not gone that far. Tasks that Google deems more sensitive (such as posts) social media Even swiping a credit card requires some supervision on the part of the user. In these situations, the Chrome bot will show you the steps needed to get there and ask you if you want to continue.

Anyone interested in experimenting with automatic referencing should strongly consider the security implications of this type of automation. Despite Google’s efforts to make it more secure to use, Auto-Browse and similar AI-based tools are still at risk of being tricked. prompt injection attack Visiting a malicious website tricks the bot into behaving in a way that the original user did not intend.

This week we’ll be testing AutoBrowse to understand its initial strengths, weaknesses, and what this tool actually means for the average Chrome user. In general, I’m skeptical of agent AI Tools designed to make your life more efficient and wipe out all your digital chores. We found that bots were almost always exaggerated and consistently unreliable. Still, Google is adamant about recalibrating the web browsing experience around AI. Given Google’s track record of gradually releasing new features, we can expect automated browsing to be rolled out more widely in the near future.

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